FAQs

What is a Homeowners Association (HOA)?  

A Homeowners Association, also known as a Property Owners Associations or Community Association, is a private, non-profit corporation formed during the development stage of a subdivision. The purpose of the Homeowners Association is to maintain the subdivision and preserve property values. Any property purchased within a Homeowners Association is subject to mandatory membership in the Association. HOAs provide services that may not be available otherwise, such as streetlights, trash collection, and recreational amenities.  

Lakeshore at Towne Lake is a sub-association of Towne Lake Community Association and is subject to mandatory membership for Lakeshore and Towne Lake.  

What is the difference between Towne Lake HOA and Lakeshore HOA has two? 

Yes, the first is your HOA for Lakeshore. Your Board of Directors of Lakeshore, through Crest Management, maintain day to day operations and administration with everything inside the front gates of Lakeshore.  Items such as these would be landscape, pool maintenance, pool and gate access passes, front gate directories and maintenance of common areas within Lakeshore, financial statements, annual assessments for Lakeshore, coordination of board meetings and minutes, etc.  Your Lakeshore annual assessment pays for these items.  For questions call or email your management team.   

The second is the Master Association of Towne Lake.  Through their Board of Directors, they work with CCMC to maintain day-to-day operations and administration of everything outside the front gates of Lakeshore.  Items such as these would be the lazy river the Lakehouse amenities, all Lifestyle Events, ARC Applications &, Deed Restrictions and Enforcement including Lakeshore.   Towne Lake also maintains all common areas outside the Lakeshore gates. To Contact CCMC for Towne Lake please call 281-213-4132. 

Who is responsible for Landscaping with Lakeshore?

The Lakeshore Association manages the monthly maintenance of all grass and plants including cutting and trimming all landscaping that is not within your fenced yard. The maintenance crew normally comes through on Wednesdays, weather permitting.  The beds of the common areas are mulched annually, normally in March.  Your annual Lakeshore assessments pays for this amenity.  Each homeowner is responsible for maintenance of all landscape and plant maintenance cutting and trimming within their fenced yard as well as plant replacement.   

Townhomes: The Townhomes pay an additional annual maintenance fee which covers irrigation, water, sewer, irrigation repairs and plant replacements per the direction of The Board. 

Homeowners are required to maintain all property within their fenced yard and will be enforced with the deed restrictions set forth in the Towne Lake Documents as well as any specific rules for Lakeshore such as Parking.

If I buy a home within an HOA, do I have to belong to the HOA?  

Yes, HOAs are mandatory membership associations meaning all current and future property owners are required to be members.
 

Who is Crest Management? What role does the management company play for my community?

Crest Management has been hired by the Board of Directors to assist in the daily management of the community. Crest prepares the financial statements, mails out invoices, and collects payments. Crest performs deed restriction inspections, mails out letters, and reports back to the Board of Directors. Crest coordinates meetings documentation, writes meeting minutes, and maintains the books and records of the Association. Crest conducts common area property inspections and works with the Associations contractors to ensure the property is maintained. To learn more about Crest Management you can visit our About and Services page.

Where is the Crest office located and what are the hours?

Our office address is 17171 Park Row, Suite 310, Houston 77084. Our office hours are Monday – Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Who is the Crest Management contact for my community?

Your management team can be found on your community’s page and your homeowner dashboard. To locate the Community Page you can use the “Community Search”.

Who do I report an after-hours emergency to?

After hours emergencies can be reported by calling 281-579-0761. Our after-hours answering service will collect information regarding the nature of the emergency and pass the information along to the management team.

How long does it take for my Crest team to respond to me?

Our goal is to respond to all phone calls and emails within one business day.

Can I contact my Board Members directly?

Board Members are volunteers and are not available to be contacted directly on a daily basis. However, all Board of Directors meetings are open to members and most meetings have a time for homeowners to speak directly to the Board. If the matter is time sensitive, we encourage you to contact your management team who can contact the Board Members immediately, if needed.

What role do the Board Members play for my community?

The powers and duties of the Board of Directors are defined in each Association’s governing documents. Generally speaking, the Board Members are responsible for making decisions on behalf of the Association. Board Members set the annual assessment rate, see to it that the deed restrictions are enforced, and enter into contracts for community services under the Association’s jurisdiction, i.e. landscape maintenance, trash collection, pool management, etc..

How do I become a Board Member for my community?

Each Association is required to have an annual meeting of members and Lakeshore’s annual meeting is usually held in May

Who are my board members?

During development, the board is made up of developer representatives. Once development reaches a certain stage, the board is transitioned to homeowner volunteers that are elected by the Association members. Volunteer board members are not available to contacted directly on a daily basis, but you may contact our office with your questions or concerns, use the Contact Us feature on the website, or attend an upcoming board meeting to meet the board members in person.

What is my account number?

Your account number can be found on your dashboard. Just login to your account and all information you need is there for you.

What is my management code and association ID?

The management code and association ID can be found on your statement. You can print/view a copy of your statement on your homeowner dashboard. For your homeowner dashboard, simply login to your account and you can find direct contact information under “View Statement”.

How do I pay my Lakeshore assessments?

Assessments can be paid online, by mail, or in person. We do not accept payment over the phone. We do not accept cash. Please note: Towne Lake Master Association Assessment will still need to be remitted to Towne Lake CAI. For further clarification, please contact your management team.  

Credit cards are only accepted online (not in person or by mail) and there is a processing fee of 2.95% of the charged amount. You may also pay online with an eCheck with a $2.25 processing fee per payment. 

Check or money order can be mailed or paid in person at our office. Checks and money orders should be made payable to your Association (not payable to Crest Management). Please write your account number on the check or money order and include the statement stub.

Payments can be mailed to:
<Association Name>
c/o Crest Management
PO Box 219320
Houston, TX 77218-9320
Be sure to include your property address in the Memo line.
 
Payments can be made in person at:
Crest Management
17171 Park Row, Suite 310
Houston, TX 77084
Be sure to include your property address in the Memo line.
 
Our office hours are 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday – Friday (closed from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Fridays).

When is my assessment due? 

Please check your statement for the due date as this may vary by Association. Most Associations bill annually with a due date of January 1^st and a late fee on February 1^st.

How do I find out my balance?

Login to the Homeowner Portal and your balance will be on your dashboard. You can also view or print a statement to see the detailed balance. Please contact Towne Lake Community Association for your Master Assessment balance.

Can I set up a payment arrangement?

For annually billed assessments, you may split your payment into three installments paid in advance of the due date (November, December, January) with no need for paperwork and no additional charges.

If you wish to set up a payment agreement after the due date, you must submit your request in writing (email is sufficient). All payment agreements made after the due date are subject to administrative fees and interest.

What is the assessment rate for my community this year?

The assessment rate can be found on your community page.  To locate the Community Page you can use the “Community Search”.

How is the assessment rate decided for my community?

The initial assessment rate was determined by the developer. Each year after, it is reviewed by the Board of Directors during budget time to determine whether any changes need to be made to cover the expenses, planned improvements, and reserve contributions.  The developer Caldwell, has been in control until just recently when you elected your new homeowner Board in 2024.


What is covered under my Lakeshore Assessment?

Your Lakeshore expenses vary yearly, and you can be better identified by reviewing your Association’s budget. In general, assessments pay for things like common area landscaping including all non-fenced yards for lawn cutting, edging and trimming, pool maintenance, utilities for common areas, amenity maintenance and operation, administrative costs associated with collecting assessments, insurance for the Association, and legal expenses related to corporate and enforcement matters.


Does my mortgage company escrow my Homeowners Association assessment?

Please contact your mortgage company to confirm the terms of your escrow with them.

How do I submit an application for a modification to my home or property?
 
Applications must be submitted through Towne Lake Community Association. Please visit www.townelakelife.com for more information.  
 

Why does my HOA have rules?

The Association’s rules and regulations are created to protect, preserve, and enhance the value of the overall community, as well as that of each individual owner. All deed restriction matters are handled by the Master Association, Towne Lake Community Association. If you have a deed restriction matter, please contact The Lakehouse at 281-213-4132.


What are CC&Rs?

The CC&Rs, Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions, are the rules for the Association. They describe the rights and responsibilities of the Association and of the homeowners. The CC&Rs may be amended over time and there may be supplemental rules and regulations adopted.

How do I obtain a copy of my governing documents?

The governing documents are available to view, download, and/or print on the community page of our website. All documents are in searchable PDF format.

How are the deed restrictions enforced?

Please contact Towne Lake CAI at 281-213-4132 or www.townelakelife.com for more information.

What is policy for parking on the street in my community?

Lakeshore’s Community streets and alleys are considered private, and no street parking is allowed.  The bays throughout the community are for guest parking only.  Parking rules for Lakeshore are strictly enforced.  
 

What amenities does my community have to offer?  

POOL: Lakeshore offers a unique Infinity Private Pool and Pavilion only accessible to Lakeshore Community Owners.   

FIREPIT: Lakeshore offers a private Firepit located on the north side of the community overlooking Towne Lake.   

PRIVATE MAIL ROOM: Lakeshore offers a private mail room with 24/7 security cameras. 

PAVILLION & GRILL: Lakeshore offers its owners a Pavilion with gas grill as well as locked coded bathrooms for their private use.  Should you wish to schedule a private party at the pavilion with more than 10 people please contact Crest.  

How do I get access to Lakeshore’s pool and gates?  

For the Lakeshore Community Select Pool/Access Device Form from the Crest website. Please note that you must be in good standing with the Association to gain amenity access, so check your balance on your dashboard before submitting your request.  

You must also have completed Lakeshore Database with all updated homeowner information which can be found here https://form.jotform.com/241835204002139 

For replacements of either the pool card or reprogramming directory there is a charge of $25. 

How do I find the hours to my amenities?

Amenity hours vary by community. The amenity hours of operation can be found in the services section of the community page.

How do I report issues I see in my community?

Contacting our office has never been easier! Simply log in to your account and click Service Request on your dashboard. Complete the simple form and your management team will be notified immediately. 

What do I do if I receive a deed restriction letter?
 
Deed restrictions are handled with Towne Lake CAI.  If you have any questions about the violation or what you can do to correct it, please call or email your management team at 281-213-4132. 
 
Does my community allow individuals to have garage sales?
 
Garage sales are not permitted in your community.
 
Does my community have a community garage sale?
 
No, community garage sales are not permitted.
 
Are commercial vehicles allowed in my community?

Lakeshore parking is strictly enforced. What constitutes as a commercial vehicle? The rules of the community can be found in the Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs) and in supplemental policies. All of the governing documents are available to you on the community page of our website. If your community prohibits commercial vehicles, the information will be contained in the documents and will include a description of what constitutes a commercial vehicle.
 

Are board meetings open to all residents?

Board meetings are open to all residents though there will be limited speaking opportunities. If you have a specific matter you wish to discuss with the board, please contact your Community Manager at least seven days in advance so they can include it on the agenda. The board does have the right to go into executive session to discuss specific topics (personnel matters, litigation, contract negotiations, enforcement actions, confidential attorney communications, matters involving the invasion of owners’ privacy, and matter involving parties who have requested confidentiality and the board agreed to honor that request). Any decisions made during executive session will be orally summarized and placed in the meeting minutes.

When is the next meeting for my community?

You can contact your management team directly to get meeting information.

When and where are my board meetings held?

Please contact your management team directly for this information.

How do I make updates (reset password, change, email, etc) to my Homeowner Portal?

While logged in to your account, select your name in the top right corner of the screen, then select User Settings. Make the desired changes and log out of your account. Feel free to log back in to confirm. If you experience any issues, please contact your management team.

Does Crest store my login information?

No, Crest does not store your password. All passwords and databases are encrypted. If you have forgotten your password, we are not able to retrieve it. You can select Forgot Password and a new one will be sent the email address we have on file.

How secure is your website?

Yes, our website has an extended validation SSL Certificate from Norton Security, which is the strongest encryption certificate available.  This is evidenced by the web address beginning with https://.
Our system is set up to be a collection of individual sites with each Association having its own site. Each site has Association specific permissions outlining who has access and to what information.

How do I update my mailing address?

Submit your address change request by email or mail to your management team. Make sure to include your name, association name, property address, and new mailing address.

How do I find out who is responsible for maintenance of certain items within my community (ie. Fence, sidewalks, empty lots, etc.)?

The rights and responsibilities are generally included within the CC&Rs which are available on your community page. But if you don’t feel like digging it up yourself, just contact your management team who is here to answer all of your questions.

How do I report a streetlight that is out or flashing?

CenterPoint Energy maintains the streetlights. Burnt bulbs and ballasts are generally repaired within 3 days while larger issues can take up to 7 days. Outages can be reported online or by calling 713-207-2222. You will need the number stenciled onto the pole or you can use the map feature on the website. If you report online, you can opt in to receive email notifications of their progress.   Note:  All Black streetlight poles inside the Lakeshore gates are Centerpoint.  Outside of the gates are the tall white streetlights along the walking paths and those are maintained by Towne Lake.


Does my association do repairs in the interior of my home?

No, the Association does not do repairs to the interior of your home. If you are still under builder warranty, you may contact the builder directly; however, the Association and the builder are two different entities and are not related.

How do I obtain a mailbox key?

The mailboxes are owned and maintained by the United States Postal Service (USPS). To obtain a key, visit your local USPS location and speak with an agent. If you don’t know where the nearest location is, you can find out here.

Who is my water company?

Your water company and contact information can be found in the services section of the community page.

Who is my trash company?

The trash company and contact information can be found in the services section of the community page.